Poems (Curwen)/The Bridal

by Annie Isabel Curwen

The Bridal.

She stands arrayed in bridal white,
 The roses on her cheeks aglow,
Her bonnie brown eyes full of light,
 Ready, and yet half loth to go.
Now that the fateful hour is near,
 The moment of departure come;
How can she break those ties so dear,
 The clear old ties of home.

Her sisters hover lovingly
 Around her, while the father tries
To wipe, unseen, the tears which he
 Seeks to surpress, but still they rise;
The mother bravely plays her part,
 She will not sadden the young bride
With sight of tears, that fain would start,
 She puts her grief aside.

The friendly neighbours gather near,
 The children crowding round the door.
Waiting with eagerness to see her—
 For she's esteemed by all who know her,
The sun shines from a cloudless sky,
 Good omen for a bridal day,
And "Isn't she sweet!" the children cry
 As the bride's coach rolls away.

Anon, while at her bridegroom's side,
 In the chancel where vows are said,
The sunbeams falling upon the bride
 Form a halo around her head.
A signal blessing from above,
 Like a smile from the Father's face,
The hallowing seal on wedded love,
 It seemed in that holy place.

The church's trying ordeal o'er,
 Names signed, the vestry doors unclose,
Bridegroom and bride appear once more,
 She blushing like a sweet June rose,
As down the old church path they pass
 Near where the silent sleepers lie,
Slumbering beneath the verdant grass,
 Under the smiling sky.

And now the wedding breakfast's o'er,
 The rice and slippers duly thrown,
And the "happy pair" off on their tour,
 The wedding guests have silent grown,
As friends who linger in the dark,
 Watching, as long as eyes can see,
The lights of a receding barque
 Slow sailing out to sea.

This mortal life is but a vast
 Unfathomed sea, where all must sail,
Prepared for many an adverse blast,
 Contrary winds, or troublous gale.
And so we wish husband and wife,
 Who have signed articles to-day,
Fair winds across the sea of life,
 With love to steer alway.